Method f producing moving pictures in colors.



I. SHAW.

'METHOD OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES IN COLORS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24 I9I8- 1,289,940. I Patentd Dec. 31, 1918'.'

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ww lw 47 6 1171 Shaw A TTOR/VEVS J. SHAW. METHOD OF PRODUCING MOVING PICTURES IN COLORS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 24. I918 1,289,940. v Patented Dec. 31,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

-$COND GROUP Fmar GROUP WITNESSES J oae 7071 S71 aw I v ATTORNEYS INVENTOR V 'encies of such films are similarly projected.

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' JOSEPH SHAW, OF NEW YORK, .N. Y., AssIcNon T0 RAINBOW PICTURES oo'iaroas'rion,

'A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

METHOD OF PRODUCING- MOVING PICTURES IN COLORS. 7

Original application filed 'July 31, 1917,

To all whom it may concern." Be it knownthat I, JOSEPH SHAW, a citizen of the United'States, and a resident of the city of New York, boroughof the Bronx,

in the'county of the Bronx and State of New 1 York, have invented a new and Improved Method of Producing Moving Pictures in Colors, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This application is a divisionof my ap plicat-ion' for United States Letters Patent,

Serial No. 183,683, filed J u1y31, 1917, and is 1 made in accordance with the requirements of the chain and certain hues or shades of colors will be missing; the gradual color scale will be disturbed, the absorption bands will tures are taken on orthochromatic or panchromatic negative film with the. aid of re curring. color filters and positive transpar- The invention has for its general object to provide means whereby the natural shades and tones of the subject or scene photographed can be more nearly reproduced on projection; and the more specific object is to reduce to a minimum the flicker efiect in color moving picture projection which is differently colored separated picture sec tionscomprising the image should not only show a diflerence in theopacities of the color separated picture sections, thus controlling and selecting the colored light which it ermits to pass, but these opacities shoul bev arranged and regulated to such a degree that if projected without color filters they should show, with the exception of the red. color separated picture sections, images closely resembling the black and white moving pic- ,ture where the amount of flicker is usually at a minimum. L

I based my theory which I later found to be. a fact, that the disturbanceor flicker which is perceived by the retina of the eye is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, rats.

due -to violent light changes caused by quickly and successively moving these picture sectlon opacities alternating in contrast of strong light and shadows, what in one of the positive picture image sections is expressed as a transparent light passing spot and as an opaque light preventing spot 1n the next following picture image section.

For illustration, if we will think of the spectrum as one chain of graduated colors and hues extending from one endof the spectrum to the other, as soon as we will take any link out we break the continued line of be sharply defined and a gap between the primary colors of the spectrum will be formed which would cause upon the retina of the eye a sensation similar to looking upon a board marked with blackand white checkers, a sensation causing an immediate disturbance eye fatigues.and'fflicker increases in pioportion, v

, And so, indeed, a similar sensation of gaps is caused uponthe retina when different sharp cut primary color filters are used in forming the difl'erent color separated opacities on the film. Besides causing :flicker these gaps prevent the eye from 5p the eye, and if such a sensation'is conti ued for a length of time, the

perceiving the colors in their natural shades I and hues, as each missing link represents a color shade or hue which is necessarily a part of the spectrum.

Further analyzing the-gaps I have observed in the projection of the difierent primary colors, that the flicker was mostly trying upon the eye when green'or bluegreen colored light was being passed by.

sharply 'cut color separated opacities, the red colored light being passed by the red color separated picture opacities did not cause'much flicker or pulsating effect upon the eye.

From that time on my efforts were ,di-

rected to picture section opacities representing separations of .wave lengths different from red, by regulating the opacities translating the photographic details from orange, green, yellow to blue shades of the subjects to such an extent that when a positive was opacities were successively projected in green colored light in combination with alternating picture section 'opacities colored. in red light, not only was flicker materially reduced but remarkably true shades of different color combinations very closely approaching natural colors formed by the mixture of red colored light alternatingwvith different hues and delicate shades of green light filtering through the difierently shaded and graduated opacities representing photographic details from orange, green, yellow. to blue shades of colors of the subject or scene. I

In order to register on the moving picture orthochromatic or panchomatic negative film the color selectedpicture image section opacities for the purpose above described I use in the taking camera in front of the negative film a movable color screen geared in any approved manner to travel in synchronism with the film, said'screen having six openings, each filled with one color filter, these six color filters comprising three color filters of short wave length and consisting of green, yellow and blue color respectively and three color. filters of a long wave length and each consisting of a red color only, so arranged that each of the three red color filters alternates tO'fOIIIl a pair with one of the three difi'erentcolor filters of the'short wave length. When-thus arranged and used in combination with an orthochromatic or panchromatic negative film these six color filters register lengthwise of the film picture image section opacities in the following order: red, green; red, yellow; red, blue; thus.

forming an unbroken chain of color separations having no gaps.

From this negative film is made a positive film bearing the successive groups of the .six picture image sections of colorselection,

which positive film can be "directly tinted, dyed or toned photographically, in such a manner that the picture image sections of red color selection will bear a red color tint and the picture image sections of green,

"yellow and blue color selection will each bear a greencolor tint,and the projection of the positive film will take place without any recurring color filters.

The tinting is preferaldly carried on by the method disclosed in the application for United States a section of a negative film and the relation of the picture image sections to the picturetaking screen and the relation of the image sections of the negative film to the tinted corresponding image sec-tions of the positive film and to the positive film projection screen when the film is regarded as a positive. 1

Fig. 2 is a s milar view showing a positive film in four tints.

Referring to the drawing, N designates sutficient of a negative film to include a group of picture image sections of which alternate sections 1 are red, as designated by the letter R, and the sections 2, 3 and 4 intermediate adjacent sections 1 are green, yellow and blue, as designated by the letters G, Y and B. Adjacent the film N is a color screen S which moves in synchronism with v the film by any approved manner and is employed in taking of the moving pictures. This screen has a plurality of red color filp ters 1, through which the picture sections 1 of the film group are exposed. The screen In the figures P designates the positive film, of which 1 are the picture image sections corresponding to the red section 1 of the negative film N, and these are tinted red. The picture image sections 2*, 3 and 4 correspond respectively to the sections 2, 3 and 4 of the negative film and they are tinted green. With a positive thus tinted projection is made without the use of recurring color filters.

In Fig. 2 the screen N are the same as in Fig. 1, but a greater length of the negative film is shown to bring out the relation thereto of a plurality of groups of picture image sections in the posi- S and negative film can be traced by the connecting arrow lines 5. 4

a of six picture image sections are diflerently affected by the G and Gr tints than they are in the next following group b. In

in every group, every other picture image section of red color selection is afiected by the R tint and the intermediate picture image sections of red color selection, by the R tint.

Fig. 2 illustrates the film ready for projection in four tints; the R is a pure red tint and the R is an orange-red tint; the G is a yellow-green tint and the G is a bluegreen tint, and when projected at a speed of about thirty pictures per second, the.

picture image sections bearing their respective tints are overlapped by persistency of vision, thus forming pairs, the color combinations of which. are being successively varied, due to the changing relation of the difi'erent color tints in combination with the varied color selections of the pictureimage sections, for example, as shownin the drawing, assuming the tinted film travels down- .wardly, beginning with the picture image section of red color selection bearing the R tin-t, it will be plain that in a given group of six picture image sections, the R and G tints affect the picture image sections of red and green selection, whereas in the following group of sixpicture image sections the picture image sections of red and green color selection will be afiected by the and G tints; likewise, in the first group, the picture image section of red and yellow color selection will be affected by the R and G tints, whereas in the'following group of six picture image sections, the picture image sections of red and yellow color selection will be affected by the R and G tints, so also, in the first group, the picture image section ofred and blue color selection willbe afiected by the R and G "tintsand in the following group the picture image sections of red and blue will be afiected'by the R and G tints.

By being able to form these difierent combinations in pairs of. various shades" of reds and greens carried by the persistency of vision in the eye of the observer, the effect of balanced colors is carriedfrom one group to another, each pair harmoniously linking with the others in the successive inovement of the film, progressively continuing the illusion of colors in such delicate graduation as to eliminate gaps and reduce fiicker to a minimum.

Where in this disclosure 1 have used the terms pure ed, orange-red, red,

green. yellow-green. blue-green, yel- '1 dbl 1 1 ow an ue co or or co ors, whether applied to filters or color selections of the picture 1mage sections, 1 w1sh to have it distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to any particular density or shade of these colors as one skilled in the art may find it convenient, whenutaking or projecting photographic records of a subject or scene, to. first consider the color scale and govern the matter accordingly, choosing lighter or darker shades of color filters in order to properly render the color values. I am aware many a subject, where colors of short wave predominate, reds forming a secondary part, that one of the red filters used in the taking screen can be dispensed with, in-

serting an orange instead, but not requiring any change in my methods of projection. Also under certain light conditions itmay be found desirable to use a light yellow filter either in front, back or between the lens to modify the predominating blue-violet rays.

While I prefer under my disclosure to arrange and use the color filters in the order described, if desired successful results rendering graduated color values can also be obtamed by either substituting a yellow filter for the blue, or a bluefilter for the yellow, the other filters remaining in the same order as above disclosed.

To make it plain, in my preferred method,

the negative film upon exposure with the i aid of a recurring color screen having six color filters, registers in groups of six picture image 'sectionsof color selection in the following order: red, green; red, yellow; red, blue. If a yellowfilter is inserted in place of the blue, the order will then bered, green; red, yellow;- red, yellow, in which case the green will appearon ce, and I the yellows twice, and the reds three times in each group of six picture image sections.

H a blue filter is inserted in placepf a yellow-the order will then bered, green; red,blue; red, blue; in which case the green will appear once, the blues twice and the reds three times in each group of six 'picture image sections.

lit will be. readily understood from the above, but 1- wish to make it plain, that in the successive rendering er the groups of six picture image sections of color selection,

the picture image section ofigreen colortelection will necessarily register only once in every SIX picture image sections.

Having thus described my lnvention, I

claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A method of projecting moving pictures in colorsin a standard moving'pic'ture projector without recurring color filters which consists inprojecting a positive film, having successive groups of six picture image sections, each section showing a color selection, three of which are-of red color I selection and alternately disposed" in their relation to" the other three picture image sections of the group, of which one isof green, one of yellow and one of blue color selection, the picture image areas of red color selection bearing a red color. tint and the picture image areas of green, yellowand blue color selection each bearing a green color tint. a

2 A standard moving picture positive film showing continuous aspects of an object or scene in successive groups of six picture image sections, each section showing a color selection, three of whlch are of red color selection and alternately disposed in theirrelation to the other three picture image sections of the group, of which one is of green,- one of yellow and one of blue color selection, the gelatin of the picture image areas of red color selection bearing in theareas thereof a uniform tint of red color and the gelatin of the green, yellow and blue color selection areas eachbearing in the areas thereof a uniform tintof green color.

3. A method of projecting moving pictures in colors in a standard moving picture projector without recurring color filters,

' which consists in projecting a positive film image areas f each red color selection bearing a red color tint and-the other picture image areas each bearing a green color tint.

4. A 'method of projecting mov1ng pictures in colors in a standard moving picture projector w1thout the aid of recurring color filters, which consists in projecting a positive film, having successive groups of slx picture image sections, each section showing a color selection, three of which are of red 7 .color selection and alternately disposed in their relation t0,.th'e other three picture image sectlons of the group, of which one isof green, one of yellow and one of blue color selectlon, the picture image areas of 'red color selection bearing a red color tint and thepicture image areas of green, yellow nd blue color selection each bearing a green .color tint, these (red and green tints differing in shades ofpure red and orangered; blue-green and yellow-green, and-are s arranged that in a given group of six picture image sections, the areas. of the picture image sections of green and blue color 1 selection bear a blue-green tint and the area of the picture image section of yellow color selectionbears a yellow-green tint, whereas, in the next following group, the areas of the picture image sections of green and blue color selection are bearing yellow-green -t1nts and the area of the picture image sec- 5, A method of projecting moving pictures in colors in a standard moving picture projector without recurring color filters,

which consists in projecting a positive film having successive groups of six picture image sections, each section showing a color selection, three of whichare of red color selection and alternately disposed in their relation to the other three picture lmage sections of the group, of which one is of green, one of yellow and one of blue color selection, the picture image -v areas of red color selection bearing a red color. tint and the picture image areas of green, yellow and blue color selection. each bearing a green color tint, these red and green color tints differing in shades of ure red and orangered; blue-green and yellow-green and designated as R, R G', G ,respectively, and are so arrangedthat in a given group of six picture image sections representing three pairs of picture image sections, one palr comprising red and its next following green color selection is bearing in its picture areas, uniform tints R and G respectively, and the second pair, comprising the red and lts next following yellow color selection is bearing in its picture areas uniform tlnts R and Gr, respectively, and the third pair of the group comprising red and its next following blue color selection is bearmg in its picture areas uniform tints R and G respectively, whereas in the next followmg group of six picture image sect1onsthe order of the color tints reverses in relat1o n to the pairs, the pair ofred and green 1s bearing the R and G tints respectively,

the pair of red and yellow is bearing the R and Gr tints, respectively, and the third pair of the group comprising red and blue, is bearing R and G tints respectively. thus the pairs of picture image sections of one group producing colorsensat1ons dlffering from those of the next followmg rou g p JOSEPH SHAW,

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